Social Security $200 increase: Democratic senators have introduced a new bill to raise Social Security payments by $200 a month. The plan comes as many Americans face high prices and inflation. Over 50 million people rely on Social Security for steady income after retirement, and lawmakers believe this extra money will help seniors manage daily costs.
The proposal is part of two new bills in Congress, one, the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act and the Boosting Benefits and, two, COLAs for Seniors Act. If approved, the $200 increase would continue until July 2026 and would also raise veterans’ benefits. The bill is backed by Senators Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Ron Wyden, and Chuck Schumer.
Social Security Raises Income Needed to Earn Work Credits Starting in 2026
A summary of the proposal said, “This would provide relief to seniors, veterans, and Americans with disabilities who live on a fixed income that would not be able to keep up with Trump inflation.”
What doe the Bills Aim to Change?
The first bill aims to give people more money each month, while the second one wants to change how yearly cost-of-living increases are calculated. Right now, the Social Security Administration uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which looks at how younger city workers spend their money.
Lawmakers say this doesn’t show what older people actually spend on things like food, medicine, and housing. The new plan suggests using a formula called CPI-E, which measures the costs for Americans aged 62 and above.
Newsweek reports that the White House said, “President Trump will always protect and strengthen Social Security, which is why he signed historic legislation removing taxes on Social Security benefits for nearly all beneficiaries.”
This push for these bills comes as inflation in the US rose to 3% in September, up from 2.9% in August the highest level since January.
Seniors say Payments are not enough
Social Security benefits are given to retirees aged 62 and older, as well as to surviving family members and disabled Americans. But many seniors say the payments are no longer enough to cover basic living costs. In August 2025, the average retirement benefit was about $2,008 a month.
Social Security Changes 2026: How the New Payroll Tax Cap May Affect Your Paycheck?
A study by The Senior Citizens League, a group that advocates for older Americans, found that only 10% of seniors are happy with the amount they receive. About 73% said they depend on Social Security for more than half of their income. The group has long supported switching the COLA formula to CPI-E to better match the real costs older people face.
Lawmakers on this matter
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said in a statement, “Americans deserve to retire with dignity, not spend their golden years just trying to get by. Our seniors have spent a lifetime of hard work paying into Social Security, but the payouts simply aren’t keeping up with rising costs, and this year’s annual cost-of-living adjustment is not enough to keep seniors afloat.”
She added, “These two bills would help make sure that older Americans don’t have to choose between paying for medication and buying groceries, providing both short-term relief and long-term solutions. As the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, I’m determined to pass these critical bills to make sure our seniors can age comfortably.”
